There is no doubt that knowledge is just a small part that makes a difference to our well-being, but it is a great start. Through exploring the knowledge that is relevant to our experience, to the questions we are looking for answers to, to the challenges we face, and the ways that can lead us out of those situations. Once we explore and understand the knowledge that serves us at this stage, we are ready to move to the next step, which is taking action by applying that knowledge into day-to-day practices. This step is crucial in order to make any changes in our life as we know that many of our behaviors arise automatically, many times without requiring much effort from us. These behaviors have also at some stage in our life become daily practices even if we were not aware of that, so to build a new stream of actions, we need to set ourselves new daily practices that better reflect who we want to be.
As we know by now, understanding our Enneagram type is just the beginning of a transformative journey towards self-awareness and personal growth. But if we want to integrate Enneagram knowledge into our daily lives, we need to incorporate intentional practices. We've tailored some daily practices that each of us can take based on our dominant Enneagram type, that can set us on the journey for deeper connection and for change that guides us to our own integrity.
Type 1 - The Perfectionist:
Daily reflection: Set aside time each day to reflect on your thoughts, actions, and behaviors, focusing on self-compassion rather than self-criticism.
Flexibility exercises: Practice embracing spontaneity and flexibility in your routines, allowing room for imperfection and adaptability.
Gratitude journaling: Cultivate gratitude by noting down three things you're grateful for each day, shifting your focus towards appreciation rather than perfection.
Type 2 - The Helper:
Self-care rituals: Prioritize self-care activities that nourish your own needs and well-being, recognizing that taking care of yourself enables you to better support others.
Boundaries practice: Practice setting and maintaining healthy boundaries in your relationships, honoring your own needs and limitations without guilt or resentment.
Acts of kindness: Engage in daily acts of kindness towards yourself and others, fostering a sense of connection and generosity without expecting anything in return.
Type 3 - The Achiever:
Mindfulness meditation: Start your day with a few minutes of mindfulness meditation, grounding yourself in the present moment and connecting with your authentic self beyond external achievements.
Goal-setting reflection: Reflect on your long-term goals and aspirations, ensuring they align with your core values and priorities rather than external validation.
Authentic self-expression: Practice expressing your thoughts, feelings, and vulnerabilities authentically, cultivating deeper connections with others beyond superficial success.
Type 4 - The Individualist:
Creative expression: Engage in daily creative outlets that allow you to express your unique perspective and emotions, whether through art, writing, or music.
Emotional awareness check-ins: Regularly check in with your emotions throughout the day, acknowledging and processing them without getting swept away by intense feelings.
Gratitude for uniqueness: Cultivate gratitude for your individuality and depth of emotions, recognizing the beauty in your complexity rather than feeling misunderstood or isolated.
Type 5 - The Investigator:
Learning exploration: Dedicate time each day to pursue topics of interest or curiosity, allowing yourself to indulge in intellectual exploration and discovery.
Social engagement practice: Challenge yourself to engage in social interactions or activities that push you out of your comfort zone, recognizing the value of connection and collaboration.
Emotional expression exercises: Practice expressing your emotions verbally or creatively, gradually building comfort with vulnerability and emotional intimacy.
Type 6 - The Loyalist:
Grounding practices: Incorporate grounding techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness, or yoga into your daily routine to alleviate anxiety and cultivate inner stability.
Trust-building exercises: Engage in activities that strengthen your trust in yourself and others, such as setting achievable goals and acknowledging your strengths and past successes.
Decision-making reflection: Reflect on your decision-making process throughout the day, practicing discernment between instinctual fear-based reactions and rational assessments of risk.
Type 7 - The Enthusiast:
Mindfulness of pleasure: Practice mindfulness during pleasurable activities, savoring the present moment rather than constantly seeking future excitement or distraction.
Commitment to completion: Challenge yourself to follow through on tasks or projects to completion, resisting the temptation to jump to the next exciting endeavor before finishing.
Gratitude for the present: Cultivate gratitude for the abundance and joy present in your life right now, rather than constantly chasing future experiences or possibilities.
Type 8 - The Challenger:
Vulnerability practice: Practice vulnerability by sharing your thoughts, feelings, and fears with trusted individuals, fostering deeper connections and understanding in your relationships.
Empathy exercises: Challenge yourself to empathize with the perspectives and experiences of others, recognizing the strength in vulnerability and collaboration rather than dominance.
Compassionate leadership: Lead with compassion and fairness in your interactions with others, empowering them to express themselves authentically and contribute to shared goals.
Type 9 - The Peacemaker:
Mindfulness of conflict avoidance: Practice mindfulness during situations of conflict or disagreement, tuning into your own needs and perspectives rather than defaulting to passive avoidance.
Assertiveness training: Practice asserting your needs and boundaries in a calm and assertive manner, recognizing that your voice and presence matter in any situation.
Purposeful action: Engage in activities that align with your values and passions, taking deliberate steps towards your goals rather than passively drifting through life.
Daily practices do not have to be a big task that leads to dramatic change in your life. You can choose to integrate one practices at a time, and once you feel the benefit of it and see that it is important to you to do that practice, then you can begin looking at integrating a new one. It can be most valuable to simply try to incorporate any of the new practices without making a big change in your existing routines and habits, as it then is more likely to stay with you and create a positive change.
These daily practices tailored to your Enneagram type are easy to start with and can make a very big difference in your life, by deepening your self-awareness, assisting in the cultivation of healthier habits, and fostering personal growth that is in alignment with your unique strengths and challenges.
If you are looking for more practices specific to your type, our tailored “Enneagram exercises books” for each of the 9 types, contain information, exercises and 40 days journaling, specific to your type. These exercise books are a great foundation for sustainable change, only taking 5 to 10 min every day.
Find your book here:
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